About the HERO Campaign

The Oregon Office of Rural Health’s Helping EMS in Rural Oregon (HERO) program raises funds to help rural and remote (formerly referred to as “frontier”) emergency medical services (EMS) volunteers pay for their training. 

If you represent a rural or remote EMS agency that wishes to conduct an in-house training, and perhaps include EMS personnel from surrounding communities, this grant is for you. Funds may also be used to send staff to training that cannot be offered locally. You may apply for funding for any training class or exercise completed within 12 months of receipt of the award. *

*Please note, applicant agencies must be located in a rural or remote area and recognized by the Oregon Health Authority EMS & Trauma Systems Program as an organization that participates in Oregon’s 9-1-1 response system. 

Since 2010, the HERO grant program has made over 300 individual and agency awards to conduct local trainings for their staff – over $335,000 distributed! 

How You Can Help

Contribute today by clicking on the button to the right. Your contribution will ensure that no matter what corner of our state you visit, you can expect a prompt EMS response.

The OHSU Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and is the repository for all private grants and charitable donations in support of OHSU. The Taxpayer Identification number is 23-7083114. 100% of donations to the HERO campaign go directly toward the rural volunteer EMS grant program.

2025 HERO Award - Application Opens March 21

The Office of Rural Health is pleased to offer a competitive HERO award application period in 2025! 

The application period opens March 21, and closes at 5:00 p.m. PT on April 11, 2025. Rural and/or remote agencies may apply for awards of up to $2,500 each. Awardees will be notified by April 18, 2025. 

TO APPLY 

Applications are submitted online, and the HERO grant application link will be posted on this page by March 21, 2025.

Additional EMS Resources

Please visit our ORH EMS webpage for additional resources, including training scholarships and other assistance. 

Contact

For questions about HERO, or to add your contact information to the ORH EMS mailing list, please contact Joan Field | fieldj@ohsu.edu